Drona Obtains Divine Weapons from Parashurama
Hearing that the great warrior Parashurama is giving away all his wealth, Drona approaches him. But he arrives too late for gold or land. Instead, he asks for the one thing Parashurama still possesses: his divine weapons and the secret knowledge of how to wield them.
Drona, now learned and skilled, heard that the great-souled Parashurama — Rama, son of Jamadagni, conqueror of enemies — was giving away all his wealth to Brahmanas. Drona went to him in search of riches.
He found Parashurama as the warrior was preparing to leave for the forest. Drona introduced himself: a bull among Brahmanas, named Drona, come in search of wealth.
Parashurama replied, “O one blessed with the power of austerities! Nothing is left of the gold or other riches I possessed. I have given it all away to Brahmanas. I have given to the sage Kashyapa the goddess earth herself, right up to the boundaries of the ocean, with all her settlements and garlands of cities. Now I only have this body with me, and my weapons. O Drona! Tell me quickly what you want. I will give it to you.”
The material wealth was gone. The land was gone. All that remained was the warrior’s art.
Drona said, “O descendant of the Bhrigu lineage! Give me all your arms and weapons of destruction, especially the knowledge of releasing them and withdrawing them.”
Parashurama agreed. He bestowed all his weapons upon Drona, and with them, all the mysteries of Dhanur Veda, the supreme science of archery. Having received this, Drona became accomplished in the use of weapons — a Brahmana now carrying the arsenal of the world’s greatest Kshatriya warrior.
Supremely skilled and happy, he then went to see his beloved friend, Drupada.